The project

Space is nothing without the people that inhabit it. Even the architectural composition of our neighborhoods is derived from human action, defining the space where the traces of peoples' movements and thoughts, creativity and memories, interactions and feelings are woven into.

Through this project, we wish to dig into the different stories and memories of people within their neighborhood and through them to identify the area landmarks that are or have been significant in their lives and their culture, as seen by its people. We are therefore trying to collect individual references on these cultural landmarks through interviews, photographic evidence and other historical sources, aiming at the recognition and subsequently the protection of these landmarks and their stories. 

Our pilot project Pithari is currently running in the district of Exarcheia, Athens. We decided to name the project Pithari as, until the end of the 19th century, the area was named after the numerous pottery workshops found everywhere in the district. “Pithari” in Greek stands for the pottery jar in which people would store their everyday necessities, so our Pithari project will become the pot for collecting memories of a neighborhood.  We hope to continue in the near future with similar projects in other cities and their neighborhoods as well, filling Pithari with stories and landmarks that must not be lost in time.

Through this project, we wish to dig into the different stories and memories of people within their neighborhood 

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... and how will all this be done?

Our activity is based on the knowledge and experience of the local community, through ethnographic research and recording of oral history. In particular, interviews are held with residents and people working in the area. Group meetings are held by the researchers and, through questionnaires as well as snapshots of the neighborhood's daily life, everything is recorded. All  this information, as well as photos, videos, texts or even maps, will be communicated through our blog.

Key to the success of the project is to collaborate and communicate with people who are directly related to or  in some way  feel connected to the region, as well as with other groups and organizations interested in the subject. 

Finally, those interested in participating in the Pithari research project, either with personal stories, photographs and other material or with volunteer work, they will certainly enrich and add value to our action. To see how to "get into" Pithari click here.